Cheltenham

Cheltenham's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in housing tenure, marriage and health.

The population reached nearly 120,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Cheltenham increased by 5.2%, from about 110,000 to 116,000.

The addition of about 5,700 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Cheltenham was home to, on average, 18 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Cheltenham

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Cheltenham increased by one year, from 37 to 38 years.

This city had a lower average age than the South West and became slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of just over 2,700 people between the ages of 20 and 29 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 1,000.

About 16% of people in Cheltenham are aged between 20 and 29 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Cheltenham by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Cheltenham

The percentage of Cheltenham residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.3% to 2.6% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 16 (6.5%) reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities, compared with 6.6% in 2001. The percentage of Cheltenham residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 91%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 3.0% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

Long hour working fell in Cheltenham, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the South West, except Isles of Scilly.

Every local authority area across the South West saw a fall in the proportion of people working long hours, as the regional average fell from 13% to 10%.

During this period, Cheltenham fell below five local authority areas, including Exeter and Gloucester, to become the South West local authority area with the sixth-lowest percentage of long hours workers.

Long hour working in Cheltenham decreased by 2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Cheltenham, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Cheltenham residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.0% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, 1.7% of reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 1.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care decreased faster here than in any other local authority district across the South West. As a result, this area had the region’s second lowest proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care.

Cotswold had the South West's third lowest proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care (1.0%), while Isles of Scilly had the region's first lowest proportion (0.9%).

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Cheltenham remained close to 1.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Cheltenham by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Cheltenham, which comprised a single parent, remained close to 7.9% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (30%) households had a married couple, compared with 32% in 2001. The percentage of households in Cheltenham, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.0% to 11%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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